Foreign Worker Recruitment Agency in Malaysia: JTKSM Licence C
Foreign worker recruitment in Malaysia is the licensed process of sourcing, screening and placing workers from government-approved source countries. Since 6 July 2026, every employer quota application is filed through the eQuota module of KESUMA's FWCMS, and a JTKSM-licensed agency such as Agensi Pekerjaan Andaraya (Licence C No. 657) then manages the VDR (Calling Visa), FOMEMA medical and PLKS work permit steps for you.
We run the full cycle under one licence: MYFutureJobs and Section 60K preparation, eQuota submission and levy, ethical source-country recruitment, Act 446 housing, zero worker fees and RBA/SMETA-ready records, so your HR team stays audit-ready without coordinating several foreign worker recruitment agencies in Malaysia.
Last updated: , reflecting KESUMA, PERKESO and FOMEMA announcements to date.
Tell us your sector, how many workers you need and your preferred source country. We reply with eligibility, quota and next steps.
Foreign worker recruitment in Malaysia at a glance (2026)
The essentials every employer, HR team and procurement lead asks first, in one place.
| Who handles recruitment | A JTKSM-licensed private employment agency (Licence C). Andaraya holds Licence C No. 657. |
|---|---|
| Quota authority and channel | KESUMA, through the FWCMS eQuota module. Online only since 6 July 2026; case-by-case approvals have ended. |
| Local-hiring prerequisite | Advertise the role on MYFutureJobs and secure Section 60K approval under the Employment Act 1955. |
| Permit sign-off | KDN and Immigration keep final authority on work permits and national security screening. |
| Eligible sectors | Manufacturing, construction, agriculture, plantation, services and mining/quarrying, subject to current sub-sector rules. |
| Worker age (new applications) | 18 to 45 years, and certified fit through medical screening. |
| Source countries | 15 listed: 12 active and 3 inactive (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan). |
| Employer-paid costs | Annual levy RM1,850 (manufacturing, construction, services, mining) or RM640 (plantation, agriculture); security bond RM500 for Indonesia, RM1,500 for most other countries. Zero recruitment fees charged to workers. |
| Mandatory compliance | FOMEMA medical, SOCSO, LINDUNG 24 JAM for foreign workers, and Act 446 certified accommodation. |
| Typical timeline | 3 to 6 months from the start of MYFutureJobs advertising to worker arrival, of which about 4 to 6 weeks follow quota approval. KESUMA promises quota approval in as little as 14 days. |
What changed for foreign worker recruitment in Malaysia in 2026
Seven government changes employers need to plan around, in date order.
Quota management moves to KESUMA
Cabinet placed the One Stop Centre under KESUMA on 1 July; from 6 July every new quota application goes through FWCMS eQuota. KDN keeps final work-permit sign-off and security screening. Read the report.
LINDUNG 24 JAM: mandatory for foreign workers
The PERKESO non-work accident scheme began on 1 June 2026. It became voluntary for Malaysian employees on 8 July but stays mandatory for foreign workers, with the employer deducting and remitting the contribution. Payroll obligations.
Fully online applications, 14-day approvals promised
KESUMA announced a fully online application process with approval promised in as little as 14 days, reported 4,646 employer applications received, began phased allocation of 15,000 restaurant-sector quotas, and is exploring a Foreign Worker Transit Centre pilot at KLIA.
Overseas recruitment through FWCMS-registered agencies
Reports say employers can now recruit only through overseas agencies registered on FWCMS, with 25 listed each for Bangladesh and Nepal. Check both the FWCMS and JTKSM registers before you commit. How to verify an agency.
FOMEMA address verification
FOMEMA registration cannot be completed until the worker's accommodation address is reviewed and confirmed in the portal. See our Act 446 guide.
Policy direction: 10% foreign-worker ceiling
The 13th Malaysia Plan targets reducing foreign-worker dependency to 10% of the workforce by 2030, from about 15% today. Expect continued local-first screening: MYFutureJobs advertising and Section 60K stay preconditions.
Multi-Tier Levy Mechanism (MTLM)
Industry bodies such as FMM are urging KESUMA to build a tiered levy into eQuota, but no gazetted change to the RM1,850 and RM640 levy rates is confirmed. We will update this page when one is.
How do employers legally hire foreign workers in Malaysia?
To legally hire foreign workers, employers must partner with a licensed recruitment agency in Malaysia holding a valid JTKSM Licence C, such as Agensi Pekerjaan Andaraya (No. 657). This ensures adherence to the Employment Act 1955, KESUMA's FWCMS eQuota requirements, Act 446 housing rules, and international RBA/SMETA zero-fee standards.
JTKSM Licence C: Act 246
Issued by JTKSM under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981. Authorised to source, screen, and place foreign workers across all sectors in Peninsular Malaysia. See what JTKSM Licence C covers.
Quota, Levy & Permits
Every placement is backed by a documented KESUMA FWCMS eQuota approval, correct levy payment via FWCMS, and a valid PLKS permit before the worker steps on site.
Zero-Fee Recruitment
Strict zero-fee-to-worker policy aligned with ILO Convention No. 181 and the Employer Pays Principle, eliminating debt bondage risk in your supply chain.
RBA / SMETA Ready
Full recruitment audit trail (signed contracts, orientation records, fee disclosures, and grievance documentation) ready before your buyer asks.
How to evaluate a foreign worker recruitment agency in Malaysia
Before appointing any foreign worker recruitment agency or manpower recruitment agency in Malaysia, HR and procurement teams should verify the following. It protects your company as much as it protects the workers.
1. Verify the JTKSM Licence
Confirm the agency's licence is current on the JTKSM registry of private employment agencies, not just a claim on their website.
2. Confirm Zero-Fee Compliance
Ask for documented proof that recruitment costs are employer-funded, not deducted from worker wages, in line with RBA and ILO Convention 181.
3. Check eQuota & Compliance History
Ask how the agency manages KESUMA FWCMS eQuota submissions and whether they can show a compliance record free of blacklisting.
4. Review Housing & Welfare Standards
Confirm the agency manages JTKSM-certified, Act 446-compliant accommodation, not informal housing arrangements that create compliance risk for your company.
Want the full list? Read our seven-point checklist for choosing a foreign worker recruitment agency, and see how to verify FWCMS-registered overseas agencies.
Complete foreign worker recruitment and placement services
We manage the entire foreign worker lifecycle under one JTKSM-licensed agency, from KESUMA eQuota application through to legal repatriation at contract end.
Quota Application & Regulatory Liaison
Workforce ratio analysis against current sector limits, full document preparation, and end-to-end submission through KESUMA's FWCMS eQuota module, fully online since 6 July 2026 with manual and walk-in submissions discontinued, including levy payment coordination and tracking. See our full eQuota application guide.
Source-Country Recruitment
Ethical sourcing from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, India, Vietnam and other government-approved source countries, with pre-departure interviews and skills assessments through accredited overseas partners.
VDR, FOMEMA & PLKS Management
VDR (Visa Dengan Rujukan), also known as Calling Visa, processed electronically as eVDR through Immigration, mandatory FOMEMA screening, PLKS execution, and JTK-compliant employment contract drafting.
Post-Arrival Housing, Transport & Welfare
Act 446 and JTKSM-certified Centralised Labour Quarters, GPS-tracked worker transportation, statutory payroll (EPF, SOCSO, EIS and LINDUNG 24 JAM), and 24/7 multilingual support from your dedicated agent.
RBA & SMETA Audit Support
Zero-recruitment-fee documentation, audit-ready payroll and levy records, and full alignment with the Responsible Business Alliance code of conduct.
Contract Management & Repatriation
Annual PLKS renewal tracking initiated 90 days before expiry, absconded worker reporting, and legally compliant repatriation processing at contract end.
How to recruit foreign workers in Malaysia: step-by-step (2026)
Aligned with KESUMA, Immigration, and FWCMS guidelines, ensuring compliance and a work-ready workforce.
Confirm Sector, Role & Worker Eligibility
We check your sector and sub-sector, the roles requested, the approved source country and the 18 to 45 age band against current KESUMA rules before any application is filed. Front-line roles such as cashier and sales assistant are not open to foreign workers.
MYFutureJobs, Section 60K & FWe
Advertise open positions on MYFutureJobs (at least 14 working days for general foreign worker roles) to meet the mandatory local-hiring precondition, secure Section 60K approval, then file the FWe application with the Labour Department (JTKSM). See our quota application guide.
FWCMS eQuota Application
Submit company documents (SSM, EPF, SOCSO, sector licences and Act 446 accommodation proof) through the FWCMS eQuota module. KESUMA promises approval in as little as 14 days; plan for roughly 2 to 4 weeks.
Licensed Agency Recruitment & Screening
Vet candidates through accredited overseas partners, with biometric verification and pre-departure medical screening under ethical zero-placement-fee terms. Source-country embassy attestation of the employment contract is arranged where the source country requires it.
Levy, Security Bond & VDR (Calling Visa)
Pay the levy through FWCMS, lodge the nationality-based security bond, then obtain the Visa Dengan Rujukan (VDR) from Immigration for the selected candidates. See our total cost guide.
Arrival, FOMEMA & PLKS Issuance
Coordinate airport reception, Act 446-compliant housing placement, and the mandatory post-arrival FOMEMA medical within 30 days of arrival, followed by PLKS issuance. This includes setting up statutory payroll tracking for EPF, SOCSO, and the mandatory LINDUNG 24 JAM scheme (borne by the worker via salary deduction).
Renewals, Compliance & Repatriation
Manage annual PLKS renewals from 90 days before expiry, the yearly FOMEMA renewal exam, RBA/SMETA compliance audits, Check Out Memos and legally compliant repatriation. See the full 7-step process guide for timings.
What quota approval requires you to pay, and what it doesn't
Beyond the eQuota approval itself, several financial obligations follow every successful application. Here's who pays what, and to whom.
Levy: Employer-Paid, Never Deducted
The annual foreign worker levy (RM1,850 for manufacturing/construction/services/mining, RM640 for plantation/agriculture) is an employer obligation. It must never be deducted from a worker's wages; doing so breaches both Malaysian labour law and the RBA Employer Pays Principle. See our full levy guide for payment timing and penalties.
Security Bond, Set by Nationality
Immigration requires a bank guarantee or cash security bond per worker before VDR issuance, refundable on lawful repatriation. The amount depends on the worker's nationality, not their sector: RM500 for Indonesia, RM1,500 for most other approved source countries. See our total cost guide for the full bond schedule by country.
SOCSO, LINDUNG 24 JAM & Insurance
Foreign workers must be registered with PERKESO. LINDUNG 24 JAM is mandatory for foreign workers (voluntary for Malaysians since 8 July 2026). The worker bears the full contribution (0.75% of monthly wages in the first phase), which the employer deducts from wages and remits to PERKESO on top of the standard SOCSO contribution. Mandatory foreign-worker health insurance (SPIKPA) applies separately. See our payroll guide.
FOMEMA Address Verification
From 8 September 2026, FOMEMA registration for the mandatory medical exam cannot be completed until the worker's accommodation address is reviewed and confirmed in the portal. See our Act 446 guide for what this means for ongoing hostel compliance.
Hiring foreign professionals or managers? The Employment Pass (Category I–III) is a separate framework with its own salary thresholds and has no bearing on source-country PLKS/VP(TE) placements, which are quota- and levy-driven. Ask us and we will point you to the right process.
Sector-specific foreign worker placement
As a JTKSM Licence C agency, we recruit and place foreign workers across Malaysia's core economic sectors, every placement managed under full Act 446 housing compliance and eQuota requirements. Sector and sub-sector eligibility is confirmed in FWCMS before each application.
Manufacturing & Industrial
Production operators, line assemblers, and QC technicians for electronics, FMCG, plastics, and automotive component manufacturers across Selangor and Penang's industrial corridors.
Construction Recruitment
Skilled and general labour for infrastructure, IBS, and civil engineering projects, with CIDB registration and OSHA safety documentation, including current G4-and-above contractor eligibility under eQuota.
Agriculture & Plantation
Field workers, harvesters, and equipment handlers for palm oil and mixed crop sectors, sourced under current sector quota guidelines.
Services, Logistics & Warehousing
Back-of-house workforce for restaurants, laundries, cleaning, cargo handling and retail and wholesale operations, housed in Act 446 certified hostels. Services quota is limited to named sub-sectors, so warehouse and logistics roles are placed only where the employer's sub-sector qualifies, which we confirm on FWCMS first. Phased restaurant-sector quota allocation began in August 2026.
Foreign worker agency coverage across Malaysia
We support employers nationwide, with the deepest coverage in these regions.
Selangor & Klang Valley
As a trusted foreign worker agency in Selangor, we support manufacturers, logistics operators, and industrial parks across the Klang Valley with sourcing, PLKS renewal, and Act 446-compliant hostel coordination.
Kuala Lumpur
We provide reliable foreign worker recruitment in Kuala Lumpur for corporate, hospitality, and services-sector employers, with fully compliant recruitment and ongoing statutory support.
Penang
As a foreign worker agency covering Penang's industrial belt, we support semiconductor, electrical & electronics, and precision manufacturing employers with sourcing and PLKS compliance.
Johor Bahru & Johor
Dependable foreign worker recruitment in JB and across Johor, serving manufacturing, electronics, and petrochemical employers in Johor Bahru, Pasir Gudang, and the wider Iskandar Malaysia corridor, plus cross-border logistics and warehousing operators at Port of Tanjung Pelepas and the Singapore trade corridor.
Pengambilan pekerja asing di Malaysia: ringkasan untuk majikan
Agensi Pekerjaan Andaraya ialah agensi pekerja asing berlesen JTKSM Lesen C (No. 657) yang membantu majikan mengambil pekerja asing secara sah. Sejak 6 Julai 2026, semua permohonan kuota pekerja asing dikemukakan secara dalam talian melalui modul eQuota dalam sistem FWCMS di bawah KESUMA.
Syarat awal
Iklankan jawatan di MYFutureJobs dan patuhi Seksyen 60K Akta Kerja 1955 sebelum permohonan kuota dipertimbangkan.
Pekerja & kesihatan
Umur 18 hingga 45 tahun bagi permohonan baharu. Pemeriksaan kesihatan FOMEMA wajib sebelum PLKS dikeluarkan atau diperbaharui.
Kelulusan permit
KDN kekal sebagai pihak berkuasa akhir bagi permit kerja (PLKS) atas faktor keselamatan negara.
Penginapan & caruman
Penginapan pekerja mesti mematuhi Akta 446. Caruman LINDUNG 24 JAM kekal wajib bagi pekerja asing.
Trusted by Malaysian employers across every sector
"We needed over 200 foreign workers placed during a plant expansion on a compressed timeline. Andaraya handled the entire eQuota application, VDR processing, and FOMEMA scheduling without a single delay."
"Passing our annual RBA audit is non-negotiable for our international supply contracts. Andaraya's zero-recruitment-fee documentation and Act 446 hostel management gave our auditors a clean paper trail."
"Zero-cost recruitment helped us pass SMETA audits with fully documented, debt-free workers, and we have renewed our agency partnership every year since."
Foreign worker recruitment agency FAQ
Essential information on licensing, quotas, costs, source countries, Act 446, insurance and compliance.
Is Agensi Pekerjaan Andaraya a licensed recruitment agency? Licence & Legal
How do I apply for a foreign worker quota in Malaysia? Quota & eQuota
How much does it cost to hire a foreign worker in Malaysia? Cost
Is Act 446 accommodation certification mandatory? Housing
How does Andaraya support RBA and SMETA audits? Audit & Compliance
How long does foreign worker recruitment take? Process & Timeline
Which countries can employers hire foreign workers from? Quota & Source Countries
Does Andaraya provide construction recruitment services? Sectors
Are there job roles foreign workers are not allowed to do? Eligibility
Which locations in Malaysia does Andaraya serve? Coverage
What is the age limit for foreign workers in Malaysia, and are there exceptions? Eligibility
What is the local-to-foreign worker ratio allowed in Malaysia? Quota & Ratio
What is FOMEMA and is it required for all foreign workers? Process & Timeline
What is a JTKSM Licence C agency and why does it matter? Licence & Legal
Is LINDUNG 24 JAM mandatory for foreign workers? Insurance & Payroll
What changed for foreign worker recruitment in Malaysia in 2026? Updates
How can I verify that a foreign worker agency is licensed? Licence & Legal
Bagaimana memohon kuota pekerja asing di Malaysia? Bahasa Malaysia
Apakah agensi pekerja asing berlesen JTKSM Lesen C? Bahasa Malaysia
Compliance & Workforce Guides
Act 446 Housing Compliance
Centralised living quarters (CLQ) audits, layout documentation, and fast-tracked JTKSM hostel certifications.
Learn moreForeign Worker eQuota Guide
Step-by-step guidance through the FWCMS eQuota portal interface, KESUMA processing, and 2026 sector cap allocations.
Learn moreRBA & SMETA Audit Compliance
Pre-audit gap analyses, transparent supply chain mapping, and corrective action planning for social responsibility codes.
Learn moreJTKSM Licence C Framework
Explainer on Private Employment Agency (APS) Licence C conditions, mandatory financial bonds, and statutory criteria.
Learn moreHow to Choose a Recruitment Agency
A seven-point checklist: verify the JTKSM licence, FWCMS roles, fees and red flags before you sign.
Learn moreFWCMS Registered Agencies
What changed on 22 August 2026 and how to check overseas agencies on the FWCMS and JTKSM registers.
Learn moreReady to build your compliant workforce?
Let's discuss how we can help you hire confidently and remain fully compliant. No obligations, just expert advice.